RESUMO
Depression and anxiety are recognized as the most common mental diseases worldwide. New approaches have considered different therapeutic targets, such as oxidative stress and the inflammation process, due to their close association with the establishment and progression of mental diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic extracts of the plant species Heteropterys brachiata and Heteropterys cotinifolia and their main compounds, chlorogenic acid and rutin, as potential complementary therapeutic tools for the treatment of anxiety and depression, since the antidepressant and anxiolytic activities of these methanolic extracts have been shown previously. Additionally, we also evaluated their inhibitory activity on the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Our results revealed that both species exhibited potent antioxidant activity (>90%) through the TBARS assay, while by means of the DPPH assay, only H. cotinifolia exerted potent antioxidant activity (>90%); additionally, low metal chelating activity (<40%) was detected for all samples tested in the ferrozine assay. The methanolic extracts of H. brachiata and H. cotinifolia exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activities in the TPA-induced ear edema, while only H. cotinifolia exerted significant anti-inflammatory activities in the MPO assay (>45%) and also exhibited a higher percentage of inhibition on AChE of even twice (>80%) as high as the control in concentrations of 100 and 1000 µg/mL. Thus, the potent antioxidant and inflammatory properties and the inhibition of AChE may be involved in the antidepressant activities of the species H. cotinifolia, which would be positioned as a candidate for study in drug development as an alternative in the treatment of depression.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios , Antioxidantes , Extratos Vegetais , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/química , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/química , Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Anti-Inflamatórios/química , Inibidores da Colinesterase/farmacologia , Inibidores da Colinesterase/química , Animais , Acetilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Antidepressivos/farmacologia , Antidepressivos/química , Antidepressivos/uso terapêutico , Camundongos , MéxicoRESUMO
Nowadays, the HIV pandemic is far from controlled. HIV+/AIDS patients show a serious risk of developing resistance to HIV antiretroviral drugs and to be orally colonized by albicans and non-albicans Candida strains resistant to antifungals. As a consequence, new drugs that possess anti-candidal and anti-HIV effects would represent an alternative in the comprehensive treatment of HIV+/AIDS patients. The present study evaluates the possible anti-HIV and anti-Candida effects of a methanolic extract from Heteropterys brachiata (Hb MeOH), an American tropical plant. The anti-HIV effect of Hb MeOH was tested using a non-radioactive colorimetric method (Lenti RT® Activity Assay; Cavidi Tech) that uses reverse transcriptase of HIV-1 enzyme as enzymatic target. The anti-candidal effect of HbMeOH extract was evaluated by following a standardized test protocol of microdilution for yeast using the Candida albicans strain ATCC® 90028. The Hb MeOH at 1 mg/mL concentration shows 38.5% RT-HIV inhibition, while Hb MeOH at 10 mg/mL concentration produced 98% C. albicans growth inhibition. Our findings show that the Hb MeOH possesses a strong anti-candidal activity and moderate anti-HIV effect and suggests that the plant extract could be considered as a potential candidate for HIV/AIDS treatment.
Assuntos
Candida , Metanol , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Antifúngicos/uso terapêutico , Candida albicans , Humanos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The constant pursuit of improved athletic performance characterizes high-performance sport and the use of medicinal plants as dietary supplements is becoming widespread among athletes to enhance long-term endurance performance. AIM: The present study evaluated the toxicity of Heteropterys tomentosa (HEHt) and its acute adaptogenic effects. METHODS: The in vitro safety profile was evaluated on CHO-k1 cells using the alamar Blue assay, at concentrations ranging from 3.125 to 200 µg/mL. In vivo acute oral toxicity was conducted in male and female mice with oral administration of graded doses of HEHt from 400 to 2000 mg/kg. A subchronic oral toxicity study was completed by oral administration of HEHt (50, 200 or 1000 mg/kg) and vehicle for 30 days in male Wistar rats. Clinical observations and toxicological related parameters were determined. Blood was collected for biochemical and hematological analyses, while histological examinations were performed on selected organs. Thereafter, an adaptogenic test consisting of progressive loads until exhaustion was conducted in rats ( n = 5/group) orally pre-treated with the vehicle and HEHt (25, 100 or 400 mg/kg). RESULTS: HEHt exhibited no cytotoxic effects on the CHO-k1 cells and, apparently, no acute toxicity in mice and no subchronic toxicity in rats. An ergogenic effect was observed only at the dose of 25 mg/kg compared with the vehicle in relation to time to exhaustion and exercise load ( p = .011 and .019, respectively). HEHt is safe at up to 400 mg/kg, contains astilbin and taxifolin as the major phytochemical compounds, and exhibited a potential adaptogenic effect. CONCLUSIONS: These results justify its anecdotal usage as a tonic, show that the hydroethanolic maceration of the root does not cause toxicity, and provide scientific evidence of its potential as a source of new adaptogenic substance(s).
Assuntos
Suplementos Nutricionais/efeitos adversos , Malpighiaceae/química , Substâncias para Melhoria do Desempenho/efeitos adversos , Extratos Vegetais/efeitos adversos , Raízes de Plantas/química , Animais , Comportamento Animal , Células CHO , Cricetulus , Etnofarmacologia , Fadiga/etiologia , Fadiga/prevenção & controle , Feminino , Flavonóis/administração & dosagem , Flavonóis/efeitos adversos , Flavonóis/metabolismo , Flavonóis/uso terapêutico , Masculino , Malpighiaceae/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Medicina Tradicional , Camundongos , Substâncias para Melhoria do Desempenho/administração & dosagem , Substâncias para Melhoria do Desempenho/metabolismo , Substâncias para Melhoria do Desempenho/uso terapêutico , Esforço Físico , Extratos Vegetais/administração & dosagem , Extratos Vegetais/metabolismo , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Raízes de Plantas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Quercetina/administração & dosagem , Quercetina/efeitos adversos , Quercetina/análogos & derivados , Quercetina/metabolismo , Quercetina/uso terapêutico , Distribuição Aleatória , Ratos Wistar , Testes de Toxicidade Aguda , Testes de Toxicidade SubcrônicaRESUMO
Six species of Adelpha Hübner from Balneário Barra do Sul (Santa Catarina) and Morretes (Paraná) were collected as eggs or larvae and reared in captivity, aiming to provide descriptions and photography of the immature stages and imagoes. The species studied were Adelpha radiata radiata Fruhstorfer; Adelpha serpa serpa (Boisduval); Adelpha plesaure plesaure Hübner; Adelpha thesprotia (C. Felder & R. Felder); Adelpha lycorias lycorias (Godart); and Adelpha capucinus velia (C. Felder & R. Felder). Two new records of host plants were provided, Tapirira guianensis Aubl. for A. radiata radiata and Heteropterys for A. capucinus velia. This study provides a summary of host plants and the seasonality of occurrence of immature stages of these species. Data were organized in photographic plates that could be useful for the identification process.
Assuntos
Borboletas , Animais , Brasil , Borboletas/anatomia & histologia , Borboletas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Florestas , LarvaRESUMO
Few data exists about the pharmacological properties of Heteropterys aphrodisiaca O. Mach. (Malpighiaceae), which is native to the scrubland regions of Brazil. The present study investigated the effects of oral treatment with H. aphrodisiaca extract (BST0298) on the learning and memory of young (3-6 months) and aged (21-23 months) rats, and compared the in vitro antioxidant activity of three lots collected in different years. An improvement in the number of sessions to learn the task was observed in the left/right discrimination test in aged rats treated for 45 days with 25 mg/kg (7.0 ± 0.5; p=0.005) or 50 mg/kg (7.6 ± 0.6; p=0.012) compared with control old rats (11.0 ± 1.6). On the other hand, pre-treatment did not improve the performance of scopolamine-treated mice in the passive avoidance test. The in vitro malondialdehyde test showed that all three different extracts presented similar antioxidant activity. The flavonoids astilbin, isoastilbin and neoastilbin were isolated from the extract and may contribute to the biological activity. These results suggest that repeated treatment with H. aphrodisiaca improves learning and memory, probably by a non-muscarinic mechanism.
Existem poucos dados disponíveis sobre as propriedades farmacológicas da Heteropterys aphrodisiaca O. Mach. (Malpighiaceae), nativa da região do pantanal brasileiro. O presente estudo investigou o efeito do tratamento oral com um extrato de H. aphrodisiaca (BST0298) sobre a memória e aprendizagem de ratos jovens (3-6 meses) e idosos (21-23 meses) e comparou a atividade antioxidante in vitro de três lotes, coletados em diferentes anos. Melhora quanto ao número de sessões necessárias para aprender a tarefa foi observada no teste de discriminação direita/esquerda em ratos idosos tratados por 45 dias com doses de 25 mg/kg (7,0 ± 0,5; p=0,005) e 50 mg/kg (7,6 ± 0,6; p=0,012) comparados com ratos idosos controle (11,0 ± 1,6). Por outro lado, o pré-tratamento com o extrato não melhorou o desempenho de camundongos tratados com escopolamina no teste da esquiva passiva. Em relação à avaliação da atividade antioxidante in vitro pelo teste do malonodialdeído, os três lotes analisados apresentaram atividade antioxidante semelhante. Os flavonóides astilbina, isoastilbina e neoastilbina foram isolados do extrato e podem contribuir para a atividade biológica. Estes resultados sugerem que a administração repetida de H. aphrodisiaca melhora a memória e aprendizagem provavelmente por um mecanismo não muscarínico.
Assuntos
Ratos , Ratos/classificação , Malpighiaceae , Memória/classificação , Flavonoides/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/análiseRESUMO
The genus Heteropterys is one of the major genera in Malpighiaceae. However, few cytological and palynological studies were reported. The present work described for the first time the chromosome number, heterochromatin pattern, meiotic behavior, pollen viability and palynological aspects of Heteropterys ubellata, a very spread species. One large Brazilian population was evaluated using conventional techniques for meiotic studies and acetolyse to access the pollen morphology. The species showed 2n = 20 chromosomes, normal meiotic development and viable pollens. Great blocks of heterochromatin were observed around the centromers. DAPI staining was positive for centroeric heterochroatin, hile CMA3 ark as observed just at terinal regions of one pair of hoologues chromosomes. This result and the presence of one chromosome pair attached to the nucleoli during the pachytene and diakinesis suggested the presence of only one pair of NORs. Palynological analysis revealed that pollen grains are apolar, 6 porate and with colpoids associated to all pores. The pollen content was positive for the starch test, and the exine was rugulate with little psilate regions.
O gênero Heteropterys é um dos maiores gêneros entre as Malpighiaceae. Entretanto, poucos estudos citológicos e palinológicos foram relatados. O presente trabalho descreveu pela primeira vez o número cromossômico, o padrão heterocromático, o comportamento meiótico, a viabilidade polínica e aspectos palinológicos de Heteropterys umbellata, uma espécie muito disseminada. Uma grande população brasileira foi estudada utilizando técnicas convencionais para o estudo de cromossomos meióticos e acetólise para acessar a morfologia polínica. A espécie apresentou 2n = 20 cromossomos, desenvolvimento meiótico normal e pólens viáveis. Grandes blocos de heterocromatina foram observados ao redor dos cen-trômeros. A coloração com DAPI foi positiva para a hetero-cromatina centromérica, enquanto marcas com CMA3 foram observadas somente em um sítio terminal de um par de cromossomos homólogos. Este resultado e a presença de um par de cromossomos associados a um nucléolo durante o paquíteno e diacinese sugerem a presença de somente um par de RONs. A análise palinológica revelou que os grãos de pólen são apolar, com 6 poros e colpóides associados a todos eles. O conteúdo polínico foi positivo para o teste de amido e a exina mostrou-se rugulada com poucas regiões psiladas.